all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing

ˌȯl-ər-ˈnə-thiŋ

1

: all-or-none

2

a

: accepting no less than everything

he's an all-or-nothing perfectionist

b

: risking everything

an all-or-nothing combat strategy

Examples of all-or-nothing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The all-or-nothing trick Goepper threw down said a lot about his goals and the sport itself. —ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026

How To Build a Blood Pressure-Friendly Morning Routine Lowering blood pressure doesn’t require an all-or-nothing lifestyle overhaul. —Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 20 Feb. 2026

The regulators claim OhioHealth imposes anticompetitive contract terms like anti-steering provisions and all-or-nothing contracting that prevent insurers from selling cheaper plans and other hospitals from limiting their prices. —Tara Bannow, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026

Short, regular sessions beat all-or-nothing thinking. —Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for all-or-nothing

• nothing

Medical Definition

all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing -ˈnəth-iŋ 

: all-or-none